Senator Panfilo Lacson (Senate of the Philippines/MANILA BULLETIN File photo)
“Ang irony nito at nakakalungkot, sa halip na magtulong-tulong tayong mga Pilipino, especially mga leaders, tayo pa nag-aaway-away sa usaping West Philippine Sea (The sad irony is that instead of coming up with a united front on the WPS issue, Filipinos especially our leaders are bickering on the issue),” Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on national defense, said in an interview over DZXL radio.
“Dapat iisa ang position natin. ‘Yan ang nagpapakita ng weakness natin sa China (What we need is a united position. Otherwise, we are just showing our weakness, one that China could exploit),” he pointed out.
Defending our sovereign rights: Will it be war? Ricardo Saludo
Last of 2 parts BEFORE getting back to where we left off last Thursday, a quick rejoinder to an article comparing how President Rodrigo Duterte and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, have handled Chinese incursions in their nations’ exclusive economic zones, or EEZ.
During tensions with Beijing off Indonesia’s Natuna Islands in January last year, Jokowi flew there and asserted that “Indonesia would not bargain on sovereignty.” He also sent warships, leading to a stand-off with Chinese vessels.
The story then noted President Duterte’s restrained response to the presence of more than 200 Chinese-flagged vessels near Whitsun Reef, or Julian Felipe Reef, claimed by the Philippines, China and Vietnam.
Locsin: PH will never give up Julian Felipe Reef mb.com.ph - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mb.com.ph Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Charge d’Affaires John Law, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana, and senior Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command representatives participate in the closing ceremony of the Balikatan Exercise. (Photos by SN1 Donald Viluan PN/PAOAFP)
QUEZON CITY, Apr. 25 Service members from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Armed Forces concluded the 36th iteration of Balikatan Exercise on Friday, April 23 with a small ceremony held at the General Headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
“The successful conduct of this year’s Balikatan Exercise 36-2021 has definitely brought us a step closer towards our goal of capacitating our forces, and as such, will consequently contribute to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific Region,” said AFP Chief of Staff General Cirilito Sobejana.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) - Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario maintains that standing up for our rights in the West Philippine Sea is not an act of war against China.
Del Rosario said that it s about time to put a stop to false claims that standing up for the nation s rights in the South China Sea is tantamount to a war against Beijing. We urge our people to reject this Chinese narrative of war because it is only intended to sow fear which is the trademark of a bully, Del Rosario said.
The former DFA chief that China itself will not wage a war against the Philippines due to such act s possible impact.